No Al Qaeda role in Kashmir: Jihad council

Calling it a conspiracy of the “Indian agencies”, the statement claimed that it (entry of Al Qaeda) was “aimed at destroying the indigenous character” of the separatist movement and “label it as international terrorism”. The statement asked the people make it clear to the world that we can wage our own struggle and do not need Al Qaeda”.

A CD carrying a video statement of a masked man who claimed the entry of Al Qaeda into India to wage Jihad against the country had been sent to a local newsagency yesterday. The masked man — who spoke in Urdu with Kashmiri accent — had been extremely critical of separatist leadership and Pakistan besides calling Kashmir as the gate of Al Qaeda’s Jihad against India.

Hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani has also questioned the veracity of the statement. He said there is every likelihood that the way Muslims are killed in Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia in the name of Al Qaida, that same strategy might be used in Kashmir as well.

JKLF chief Yasin Malik said that Kashmiris do not need the help of Al Qaeda. “We will not like their presence in Kashmir,” he said.